NASA’s Last Space Shuttle Blasts Into History

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - JULY 08: Space shuttle Atlantis blasts off from launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Centern July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This lift off is the last in the 30-year-old shuttle program. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

NASA's Final Space Shuttle Flight Lifts Off From Cape Canaveral

(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Space shuttle Atlantis blasts off from launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Centern July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This lift off is the last in the 30-year-old shuttle program. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

NASA's Final Space Shuttle Flight Lifts Off From Cape Canaveral

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - JULY 08: Space shuttle Atlantis blasts off from launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Centern July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This lift off is the last in the 30-year-old shuttle program. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

NASA Research Center Celebrates Atlantis Launch

MOFFETT FIELD, CA - JULY 08: People watch a replay video of the launch of space shuttle Atlantis during a viewing party at the NASA reseach center on July 8, 2011 in Moffett Field, California. Space shuttle Atlantis is the final lift off in the 30-year-old shuttle program. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

NASA's Final Space Shuttle Flight Lifts Off From Cape Canaveral

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - JULY 08: Space shuttle Atlantis blasts off from launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Centern July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This lift off is the last in the 30-year-old shuttle program. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The space shuttle Atlantis lifts off Jul

The space shuttle Atlantis lifts off July 8, 2011 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the final flight of the shuttle program. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

NASA's Final Space Shuttle Flight Lifts Off From Cape Canaveral

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - JULY 08: Space shuttle Atlantis blasts off from launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Centern July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This lift off is the last in the 30-year-old shuttle program. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

US space shuttle Atlantis lifts off on J

US space shuttle Atlantis lifts off on July 8, 2011 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the final flight of the shuttle program. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Th space shuttle Atlantis lifts off on July 8, 2011 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the final flight of the shuttle program. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

NASA's Final Space Shuttle Flight Lifts Off From Cape Canaveral

Spectators watch as Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off during the final space shuttle mission from the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral, Florida July 8, 2011. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Spectators watch as Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off during the final space shuttle mission from the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral, Florida July 8, 2011. This is the final launch of the space shuttle program, which began in 1981. The total miles flown by all of the space shuttles are 537,114,016. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Th space shuttle Atlantis lifts off on J

Th space shuttle Atlantis lifts off on July 8, 2011 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the final flight of the shuttle program. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Th space shuttle Atlantis lifts off on J

Th space shuttle Atlantis lifts off on July 8, 2011 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the final flight of the shuttle program. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)